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"Can you magically produce me a change of clothes?" I ask, only half-kidding. "My pants are soaked now. I’m embarrassed to stand up."
Elise whips off her sweater, revealing a tank top. "Here, tie this around your waist when you stand up. We don’t need anyone snapping pics of your wet booty."
"Thank you." I take it gratefully and look at Luna. "Did Nathan respond?"
She shakes her head. "No. Let’s just head up to his office and wait for him."
That makes me laugh a little. "He made me promise I wouldn’t give birth in the arena."
"We have plenty of time. We’ll get you to the hospital," she says, giving my arm a squeeze. "I’m texting my mom. She can go to your house and pick up your hospital bag and meet us there."
I put my hands on my cheeks. "I’m having a baby. I am having a baby. This is happening." I shift in the seat and the pressure on my back gets worse. "Jesus, I don’t think I can stand up."
Luna shocks me by putting her fingers to her mouth and giving a sharp whistle. She waves her arms wildly. "Hey! Sammy! Get your furry butt over here."
The mascot looks at us, looks to his left and then his right, like he assumes Luna is talking to someone else.
"Yes, you!" She gestures for him to come over. "We need you."
Sammy bounds up the couple of steps and skids to a halt in front of us.
"Help Dani up. She’s in labor."
His paw goes to his mouth then he gives a nod, his costume head jiggling a little. He rips his paw glove off and holds his hand out to me.
I almost laugh. Except I’m afraid if I laugh I’ll make the wet-pant-situation worse. I tie Elise’s sweater around my waist and take Sammy’s hand. He’s stronger than he looks. He manages to haul me up and out into the aisle, his grip steady and reassuring. I give him a grateful smile as he starts to walk me up the steps. Luna hovers on my other side and Elise brings up the rear, holding our coats and purses.
Fans are eyeing me curiously so I give them a smile and remind myself women do this every minute of every day and I have no reason to panic.
The announcer is saying, "We have a substitution, folks. Looks like number seventeen is heading to the locker room."
That immediately makes me feel better. Michael must have seen Luna’s text and told Crew. They’re leaving the game.
Cam is at the top of the stairs holding Luna’s snacks. "What’s going on?"
"Dani’s water broke."
He gives a look of alarm, then shoves the popcorn at Sammy. "Here, take this. I’ve got Dani."
Sammy lets go of me and takes the popcorn. He lifts his mask and for the first time I see the real person in the mascot costume. Wade looks a little younger than me, with kind eyes and a bright smile. "Yo, good luck," he says. "You’ve got this."
"Thanks, Wade. I appreciate your help."
"No problem." His gaze has already drifted to Elise’s substantial cleavage, rising high out of her tank top.
She shakes her head. "No. There’s nothing in there for you, dog boy."
He gives a sheepish shrug and tosses some popcorn in his mouth. "Sometimes you gotta look directly into the sun."
With that, he wanders back down the stairs, dropping his mascot head back into place.
It makes me giggle, maybe slightly hysterically. The pain is intensifying faster than I imagined. I’m half hunched over, death grip on Cam’s hand.
"What the fuck was that?" Luna asks, shaking her head. She puts her phone to her ear. "I’m calling Nathan. Cam, let’s get Dani to the elevator."
It’s a slow walk but we make it to the elevator that goes up to the private suites and offices. I’m asking Luna to dig around in my bag for my security clearance pass to access it when the doors glide open and Nathan strides out, his expression stormy.
"Thank God," he breathes when he sees me. "Are you okay?"
